Printing plate



T. w. GITTUS. PRINTING PLATE Sept. 2 7, 1960 Filed March 13, 1959 INVENTOR. I THOMAS w. GITTUS ATTORNEYS Such printing apparatus is described, for the purpose or United States Patent @fiice Patented Sept. 27,

2,953,989 PRINTING PLATE Thomas W. Gittus, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Toledo Scale Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of "Ohio Filed Mar. 13, 1959, Sr. No. 799,351

12 claims. (31. 101-'"-=384) a This invention relatesto printers for tickets labels or printersior printing successive labels with ditferent 'information.

. V flheprinting attachments areparticularly useful in the printing apparatus which is shown and described in co- 'the like, and more particularly to attachments for such :in'g" plate which j-fui'ictiio ns additionally as a holder fora second printing. plate, one of theplates printing a commodity name and the other printing a commoditygrade, whereby the totalnurnber of plates needed ina set used in foodstore prepackaging is kept relatively small by using the same commodity grade plate'with several of pending US. application Ser. No. 791,728 filedlf'e'bruary 6, 195 9-in-the names of C. E. Adler and F. C. Carroll. illustration, in connection with a weighing scale, the scale and the printing apparatus being constructed as a unit to weigh commodities and-to issue aprinted ticket bearing t-hcreon the net weight, price per pound, and computed value of a weighed commodity together with such variabledata as the date, store code, commodity name, and commodity grade.

Where successive l bels mustbe provided with diiferent information, e.g., in connection with'labeling of-packaged meats in food stores, the changing of the rprinting type in the printing apparatus constitutes an important element of time and cost. Several labels may bear "information as to the cut, e.g., Rib R oast and the grade, e.g U.S. Choice either one or both of which informati'ons must be changed for-printing the next group-of labels. Furthermore, such information must bepropjerly positioned so that no overlapping of the various printed matter occurs. I

-Heretofore, some printers for tick ets, labels or the' like had channeled drums holding lines of type. Such printers are not satisfactory for printing successive labels with different information, since much timeis consumed in transferring and positioning-thetype. Qther priorprinters for tickets, labels or the like hadprinting plates in lieu of channeled drums holding lines of type, which bore embossed printing indicia for printing both the com modity names and commodity grades. An ex'ampleofsuch 2,839,995 issued June 24, 195 8 in the namesofRuO.

Bradley and B. E. Robinson. Although generallysatis factor suchrin tin lates are ex ensive because of the great number required for each printer, thegreatnumber being necessary because the plates were used to print-- both the commodity namesand commodity grades. In

order to print five labels with the five different US.

grades of beef, even though each-of the fivedabels was printed with the same commodity name such as Rib Roast, five ofthe prior printing plates were reguiredu;

Furthermore, the channeled drums holding lines of type and the printing plates and theirhol dersshownand described-in the foregoingpatent are usefulonly in ventional rotary printing machines whereas in theprinting apparatus shown and described in the foregoing application, which the printing attachmentsof the invention are particularly useful, the printinggtypeare stationary and means, such as a rollenprinter, presses an element to be printed against suchprintihgtype.

A further object oftheinvention is toprovide, animproved printing plate for a .printer for tickets, labels oreil Still another object of the invention is to provide ;an

---improved holder for "such printing --plate in which the plate is easily and accurately positioned and from which A the-plate'is readily detachable.

Another object of thejinv'ention is 'to provide, inf-a ..-printer' f or tickets, labels or the like, a printing plate holder whichis easily-and accurately located in proper position in the printer and whichis readily detachable r from theprinterfthe holder itself funotionin'gadditionally-in certain instances as a printing plate, anda printing plate which is easily and accurately "so located in proper position in the holder thatany printing type on the holder and the printing type "on the printing :plate I of the invention.

' labels orthe "like.

'are juxtaposed and which is readily'detachablefrom the holder. I

These and other objects I and advantages will be apparent from the following-description of a preferred form -According to the invention, a pair of cooperating printing plates is provided 'for a printer for printing tickets, One, of the plates prints-information which is different from thatprinted by'the'other. lnin- 1 stances where diff'erent labels are printed with some-informationwhiclr is common wall, it ispossibleto reduce the overall number of the plates by using a common -plate for the common information. For example,,where successive-labels are provided 'with different information'in' connection with-thelabeling of prepackaged be'ef a printer is shown and described in- U QS. Patent No.

and US; Prime Rib R0ast required two of the :eom-

modity, plates which are-shown and described in the fer e- ;rgoing U:S; Patent No.j2,-839,995;*ln contrast',;the same in food stores, the "common information is the grade 1 'of the *particular beef being packaged 'while the variable information is the fnameof the-cutsuch as Rib =Roats, etc. iHeretofor'e," the printing of US: Choice Rib Roast printing "is performed by, one of thewonimodity name p1ates (Rib,-Ro ast) ofthe invention by changingthe commoditvgrade plates -(U3S. -Choice and U15: Primefofthe invention which" cooperate 'zwith' sudh commodity.- name ==plate. Since'thei'e are o'nlyfi ve USugrades'ofbeeffOnIy' five of the commodity grade plates are needed fora coinplete set. These fiv'e plates reduce the iover'all inutnberof'th'e plates in the-set by many times five A V The-commodity grade plateis intlie formiof a holderwhich is easily and accurately located'f-in the -:.printer. This holder may o-r'may not bear-printing indicia, For example, thereare no grades of cheese", luncheonn eat,

It is, therefore, the principal object bf this to provide improved means for removably fixing print- Uti1ity,' or Commercial. The-commoditynagne plate is a i y ae r y sqa edw t e de t 1 ,11 or'by removing the name plate from the holder. When in place in the holder, the printing type on the name plate are juxtaposed to any printing type on the holder. Both the commodity grade and commodity name plates are formed with easy to grasp handle means, formed to be located in the printer in one position only, and have identification indicia in view of the operator so that he can tell at a glance which plates are in the printer.

In processing a side of beef, the commodity grade plate is chosen which corresponds to the grade of the beef being processed. This plate is positioned in the printer and is not disturbed as long as that grade of beef is being processed. Commodity name plates are substituted one for the other as the various cuts from the side of beef are prepackaged. The printing, for example, of US. Choice Rib Roast and U.S. Choice Sirloin Stea requires one of the grade plates and two of the commodity plates.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. I is a plan view of the printing plates of the invention in their operative positions in a printer, the printer being shown only fragmentarily;

Fig. II is a front elevational view of the device shown in Fig. I;

Fig. III is a side elevational view of the device shown in Fig. I; and

Fig. IV is an exploded view in perspective of the print: ing plates shown in Figs. I-III.

These specific figures and the accompanying description are intended merely to illustrate the invention but not to impose limitations on the claims.

The printing plates 1 and 2 of the invention are shown at a printing station in Figs. IIII in operative positions in a frame 3 of a printer which for the purpose of illustration can be considered to be the printer for tickets, labels or the like which is shown and described in the foregoing application Ser. No. 79l,728. Tickets or labels (not shown) are pressed against the printing plates after they are inked as described in the application by a platen roller 4 as also described in the application.

Printing plate 1 functions both as a printing means and as a holder for the other printing plate 2; it includes a flat printing plate supporting portion 5, a part or edge 6 of which is bent or turned up out of the plane of the supporting portion 5. The bent part 6 of the printing plate 1, which is the front portion of the plate, functions as a place to put identification indicia 7 which correspond to the printing type 8 carried by the supporting portion of the printing plate. These type 8 can be made, for example, of rubber, metal, or plastic and can be formed integrally with the plate or made separately and attached by means of an adhesive and are used to print a first kind of information, for example, the grade of beef being prepackaged, such grades being U.S. Prime, Choice, Good, Utility and Commercial. For commodities, such as cheese or luncheon meat, which are not graded the area on the plate occupied by the type 8 is left blank. Hence, six of the printing plates 1 are needed for a complete set, five for the five grades of beef and one for the blank, and are termed commodity grade printing plates. The commodity grade printing plate 1 also carries type 9 for printing a store code.

The bent part or front portion 6 of the printing plate 1 also functions as a support for a pair of locating and latch pins 10 each of which includes a pair of spaced shoulders 11 and a portion which extends through the front portion 6 of the printing plate 1 to receive a knob handle 12. The pins 10 are received in horizontal openings 13 in the frame 3 with the shoulders 11 that are remote from the handles 12 against abutment surfaces 14 of the frame to accurately locate the type 8 and 9 in the printer and with the upper surface of the type bearing portion 5 of the printing plate 1 against an abutment surface 15 of the frame 3 to impart stability to the printing plate 1. It is vital that the printing type 8 and 9 be accurately located in the printer so that no overlapping of the various printed matter occurs, the printer printing and issuing a ticket or label bearing thereon the net weight, price per pound, and computed value of a Weighed commodity together with such variable data as the date, store code, commodity name, and commodity grade, the store code, commodity name and grade being printed by the printing plates of the invention.

A slide keeper 16 supported on the shoulders of shoulder screws 17 carried by the frame 3 above the abutment surfaces 14 of the frame is selectively slidable between a locked and an unlocked position as determined by the length of slots 18 in the keeper that cooperate with the shoulder screws 17. In the locked position which is shown in Figs. I-III, tongues 19 on the slide keeper 16 are received in a tight fit between the spaced shoulders 11 on the pins 10 to hlod the commodity grade printing plate 1 in place, the printing plate 1 being readily removable from the frame 3 of the printer by sliding the keeper 16 to its unlocked position and withdrawing the pins 10 from the openings 13 in the frame.

The commodity grade printing plate 1 which functionsadditionally as a holder for the other printing plate 2 is provided with-a slot 20 which extends from the front portion 6 of the plate 1 toward the printing type 8 on the plate, the slot 20 being transverse to such type 8 and having an enlarged open end 21 at the front portion 6 and a closed end 22 remote from the front portion 6. A spring clip or keeper 23 is secured to the type bearing portion 5 of the plate 1 at the closed end of the slot with its open mouth facing the slot, the spring clip 23 being on the upper surface of the type bearing portion 5 and the type 8 being on the lower surface of the type bearing portion 5.

The printing plate 2 includes a flat portion 24 hearing type 25 for printing a second kind of information a minor part or front portion 26 of which type bearing portion is bent out of the plane of the type bearing portion and which is suitable for use as a handle and as a place to put identification indicia 27 corresponding to the type 25. Three shouldered guide and lock pins 28 are carried by the upper surface of the type bearing portion 24 of the printing plate, the lower surface of the type hearing portion 24 being the surface on which the type 25 are located, in a straight row which extends transverse to the front portion 26 of the plate and to the type 25 on the plate.

The printing plate 2 is inserted in the holder 1 by moving it in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. IV to insert the first one of the pins 28 in the enlarged open end 21 of the slot 26 and then the other two of the pins until such first pin contacts the closed end 22 of the slot. The edges of the printing plate 1 along the slot 20 fit snugly between the shoulders on the pins 28 and the upper surface of the type bearing portion 24 of the printing plate 2. A head 29 on such first one of the pins 28 expands the spring clip 23 as it approaches the closed end 22 of the slot 20, the clip resiliently returning to its original position to embrace the head 29 when the printing plate 2 is inserted fully in its holder 1 to retain the plate 2 in the holder in a readily removable condition. In the inserted position, the type 25 on the printing plate 2 are juxtaposed to the type 8 on the holder or commodity grade printing plate 1 in an accurately located position, the type 8 printing the grade of the beef being prepackaged and the type 25 printing the name of the cut of the beef being prepackaged. Hence, the printing plate 2 is termed commodity name printing plate. The commodity name printing plate 2 can be readily removed from the printer either by sliding it out of the slot 20 in the commodity grade printing plate or holder 1 or by removing the holder 1 from the frame 3 of the printer as hereinbefore described.

In operation, in processing aside of beef, a commodity gradeprinting plate or'holder- 1 is chosen whichcorresponds to the grade of the beef being processed. The identification indicia 7 aids in the selection. The printing plate or holder 1 is locked in the printer by'means of the slidekeeper 16, the shoulders 11 remote from the handles 12 on the pins ltl'locating the holder accurately relative to theprinting station in operative position and the slide keeper lockin'g'th'e holder in such position. The type 8 carried by theholder prints information of a first kind, i.e., the gradeof the'beef, and'is left in the printer as long as the grade of the beef being prepackagedremains unchanged.

Commodity name'printing plates 2 are substituted one forthe other inthe holder 1 in operative positions accurately located, by means including the closed end 22 of the slot 20 in the holder, relative to the printing station as the various cuts of beef are prepackaged. Type 25 carried by the printingplates 2 print information of a second kind, i.e., the names" of the cuts of beef. Since the commodity name plates 2 are readily detachable from th'eholder 1, a relatively large num'er of combinations of said'two kinds of information can be printed from a relatively small number of printing plates. Of course, the two kinds of information can beinformation other than commodity grades and names depending upon the particular use to which the printer is put.

In processing commodities which do not have grades, such as cheese and luncheon meat, a holder 1 is chosen which does not carry printing type, i.e., it is a blank. Gdmrnodity name printing plates 2 are substituted one for the other in the holder 1 as the various commodities are prepackaged.

Various modifications may be made in specific details of construction Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, I claim: I

1. In a printer for tickets, labels or the like, in combination, a frame, a pair of'cooperating printing plates, a first one of the plates'h'aving a type bearing portion, a front portion out of the plane of thetype bearing portion and latch means on the front portion, the second one of the plates also having a type bearing portion,

there being a slot in one' of the type bearing portions,

means on the other one of the type bearing portions received in the slot to guide the second plate into a position wherein the type on the plates are juxtaposed, resilient means for retaining the plates in'such position, and keeper means on the frame which cooperate selectively with the latch means on the first plate for holding the first plate in a stationary position on-the frame, whereby the. second plate can be readily removed from the printer either'by removing it from the first plate or by removing the first plate from the printer.

2. In a printer for tickets, labels or the like, in combination, a frame, a pair of cooperating printing plates, a-first one of the plates having a type bearing portion, a front portion out of the plane of the type bearing portion and latch means on the front portion, the second one of the plates also having a type bearing portion, there being a slot having a closed end in one of the type bearing portions, a keeper at the closed end of the slot and means on the other one of the type bearing portions received in the slot and retained by the keeper to hold the type on the plates juxtaposed, and keeper means on the frame which cooperate selectively with the latch means on the first plate for holding the first plate in a stationary position on the frame, whereby the second plate can be readily removed from the printer either by removing it from the first plate or by removing the first plate from the printer.

3. In a printer for tickets, labels or the like, in corn bination, a frame, a pair of cooperating printing plates, a first one of the printing plates having a type bearing portion and a front portion out of the plane of the type bearing portion, latch means on the front portiom a slotin the type-bearing portion extendingfrom' the front portion, the end of the slot remote from the'front portion being closed, and a spring'keeper' at the closed en'd of the slot, the second one of the printing plates also having a-type bearing portion and means received in the slot and retained by the spring keeper to hold the printing type on' the-plates juxtaposed, and keep'er'means-on the frame which cooperates selectively with thelatch means on the first plate forholding the first plate'onth'e frame, whereby the second plate can be readily'rem'oved from the printer either by sliding it outof'the slot in the first plate or by removing-the first plate fro'mthe printer.

4: In a printer for tickets, labels or'th'e like, in combination, a frame, a pair of cooperating printing plates, a first one of theprintin'g plates having a type bearing portion, a front portion out of the plane of the type bearing portion, latch means on the front portion and a handle on the front portion, the second one of the printing plates also having a type bearing portion and a front portion out of the plane of the type bearing portion, there being a slot inone of the type bearing portions extending transversely to the type thereon, the slot having an open end at the front portion of the printing plate and aclosed end remote from the front portion, means on the other one of the type bearing portions received in the slot to guide the second plate into a positionwherein the type on the plates arejuxtaposed, resilient means for retaining the plates in such position, the front portionof the second plate functioning both as a handle and as a place to put identification indicia'corr'esponding to the type on the type bearing surface of the second plate, and keeper means on the frame which cooperates selectively with the latch means on the first plate for removably holding the first plate on' the frame.

5. In a printer for tickets, labels or the like, in combination, a frame, a pair of cooperating printing plates, a first one of the printing plates'havin'g atype bearing portion, a front portion out of the plane of the type bearing portion, latch means on the front portion, a handle on the front portion, a slot in the type bearing portion extending from the front portion transversely to the type thereon, the slot having an open end atthe front portion and a closed end remote fromthe front portion, and' a keeper at the closed end of the slot, the

second one of the printingplates having a type bearing portion, a front portion out of the plane of the type bearing portion and means received in the slot and retained by the keeper to hold thetype on the printing plates juxtap'osed,- the front portion of the second plate functioning both as a handle and as a place'to put indic-ia corresponding to the type on the type bearing surface of the second plate, and keeper means on the frame which cooperates selectively With the latch means on the first plate for removably holding the first plate on the frame.

6. The combination of a pair of printingplates-for a printer for tickets, labels'or the like'comprising a first printing plate having a type bearing portion, a front portion out of the plane of the type bearing portion remote from the type on the type bearing portion, a slot in the type bearing portion extending from the front portion toward such type, the slot having an open end at the front portion and a closed end remote from the front portion,

and a spring clip at the closed end of the slot, and a sec-' 7. The combination of a pair of printing plates for a printer for tickets, labels or the like comprising a first printing plate having a type bearing portion, a front portion out of the plane of the type bearing portion and remote from the type on the type bearing portion and a handle on the front portion, such front portion being suitable for carrying identification indicia corresponding to the type on the first plate, and a second printing plate having a type bearing portion and a front portion out of the plane of the type bearing portion and remote from the type on the type bearing portion, the front portion functioning both as a handle and as a place to put identification indicia corresponding to the type on the second plate, one of the type bearing portions having a slot extending from the front portion toward the type on such type bearing portion, the slot having an enlarged open end at the front portion and a closed end remote from the front portion, the other one of the type bearing portions having means insertable in the enlarged open end of the slot and slidable in the slot, and a spring clip on one of the plates which cooper-ates with the other one of the plates to hold the printing type on the plates juxtaposed.

8. The combination of a pair of printing plates for a printer for tickets, labels or the like comprising a first printing plate having a type bearing portion, a front portion out of the plane of the type bearing portion remote from the type on the type bearing portion, a handle on the front portion, such front portion being suitable for carrying indicia. corresponding to the type on the first plate, a slot in the type bearing portion extending from the front portion toward the type, the slot having an enlarged open end at the front portion and a closed end remote from the front portion and a spring clip at the closed end of the slot, and a second printing plate having a type bearing portion and a front portion out of the plane of the type bearing portion remote from the type on the type bearing portion, the front portion functioning both as a handle and as a place to put indicia corresponding to the type on the second plate, and means insertable in the enlarged open end of the slot, slidable in the slot and receivable in the spring clip to hold the printing type on the plate juxtaposed.

9. The combination of a printing plate and a holder therefor for a printer for tickets, labels or the like comprising a holder member having a printing plate supporting first portion with a second portion out of the plane of the supporting portion, and a printing plate member having a type bearing first portion and a second portion out of the plane of the type bearing portion remote from the type on the type bearing portion, the second portion of the plate functioning as a handle and as a place to put indicia corresponding to the type, one of the members having a slot in its first portion with an enlarged open end and a closed end, the other one of the members having means insertable in the enlarged open end of the slot and slidable in the slot to position the type on the plate remote from the second portion of the holder, and means on one of the first portions for retaining the plate in the holder in such position.

10. The combination of a printing plate and a holder therefor for a printer for tickets, labels or the like comprising a holder having a printing plate supporting first n 0 portion with a second portion out of the plane of the first portion, a slot in the first portion having an enlarged open end at the second portion and a closed end remote from the second portion and a spring clip at the closed end of the slot, and a printing plate having a flat type bearing surface, an edge out of the planeof the type bearing surface remote from the type on the type bearing surface, the edge functioning both as a handle and as a place to put indicia corresponding to the type, and means insertable in the enlarged open end of the slot, slidable in the slot and receivable in the spring clip to retain the printing plate in the holder.

11. In a printer for tickets, labels or the like, in combination, a frame, a printing plate holder having a printing plate supporting portion and an up-turned front edge, latch means on the front edge, a slot in the supporting portion extending from the front edge, the end of the slot remote from the front edge being closed, and a spring keeper at the closed end of the slot, a printing plate having a type bearing surface and means received in the slot and retained by the spring keeper to retain the printing plate in the holder, and keeper means on the frame which cooperates selectively with the latch means on the holder for holding the holder on the frame, whereby the printing plate can be readily removed from the printer either by sliding it out of the slot in the holder or by removing the holder from the frame.

12. In a printer for tickets, labels or the like, in combination, a frame, a printing plate holder having a printing plate supporting portion with an up-turned front edge, latch means on the front edge, a slot in the supporting portion having an enlarged open end at the front edge and a closed end remote from the front edge and a spring clip at the closed end of the slot, the front edge functioning as a handle, a printing plate having a type bearing surface, a front edge out of the plane of the type bearing surface remote from the type on the type hearing surface, the front edge functioning both as a handle and as a place to put identification indicia corresponding to the type, and means insertable in the enlarged open end of the slot, slidable in the slot and receivable in the spring clip to retain the printing plate in the holder, and means on the frame which cooperates selectively with the latch means on the holder for holding the holder with its detachable printing plate on the frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 457,304 Cross Aug. 4, 1891 675,898 Maxwell June 11, 1901 905,928 Rogers Dec. 8, 1908 1,026,254 Duncan May 14, 1912 1,149,508 Eavenson Aug. 10, 1915 1,242,117 Adamson Oct. 9, 1917 1,759,022 Putnam May 20, 1930 1,987,370 Pleger Ian. 8, 1935 2,530,049 Ekblom Nov. 14, 1950 2,605,967 Stone Aug. 5, 1952 

